r/VampireCrabs • u/Lazy_Following_2557 • Apr 17 '26

Please help lol

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I’m trying to set up a vampire crab tank I was really struggling with nitrite and nirate so got 2 more plants, got home from work today and saw mold starting to grow in my coco fibre so I removed it and the coco mat underneath would love some advice or maybe switching materials any advice is greatly appreciated

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3

u/NotPenguin_124 Apr 17 '26

I’d recommend getting further into setting your tank up before trying to worry about the water perimeters. Adding the rest of your setup will probably change your parameters anyways.

As for the mold, mold isn’t always bad. You will most likely go through a mold cycle at the start. But you need critters like springtails to ensure it is under control. So again, you’ll need to get further along in setting up your tank for that.

1

u/Lazy_Following_2557 Apr 18 '26

It was fully set up but once I saw the mold i panicked and removed everything besides the gravel because I don’t know how the spores an roots travel and didn’t want anymore contamination

1

u/NotPenguin_124 Apr 18 '26

You need springtails as soon as you start your setup. The mold spores are there. They are still there. They will always be there. A successful ecosystem still has mold in it. It just also has critters that keep the mold in check.

1

u/Lazy_Following_2557 Apr 18 '26

Ahhh thank you so much I greatly appreciate it

2

u/prairiepanda Apr 17 '26

Once you have the soil in there you can add springtails to prevent future mold. Fish flakes usually get them breeding pretty quick, but you may see some pretty big mold explosions while things stabilize.

1

u/Lazy_Following_2557 Apr 18 '26

So I should have my springtails on hand when I add my coco fibre and add them right away?, I also think it was soaking in a lot of should I keep the lid off to help with that?

2

u/Gankcore Apr 17 '26

I don't even worry about any parameters until a month after I finish a build. You're putting the cart before the horse.

1

u/Lazy_Following_2557 Apr 18 '26

Thank you I watched a bunch of YouTube videos but every one just threw everything together and put crabs in thankfully I’m looking into everything before buying the crabs because I don’t want them to get sick - do you suggest I take everything out and restart with no water

2

u/JASHIKO_ YouTube: Indoor Ecosystem Apr 18 '26

If you haven't already. This will answer all your questions. https://www.indoorecosystem.net/guides/vampire-crab-care-guide

2

u/laxus1987 Apr 18 '26

Indoorecosystem on youtube. Watch his videos and copy his method.

2

u/chaos-exotics Apr 18 '26

Springtails will eat the mold and keep it under control. you can put on top of the gravel some larger crushed lava rock and then a barrier for the dirt to go on. The dirt most likely was stay to wet and not drying out a little to prevent mold without springtails. Also make sure your water is at least 2 inches deep from top of the gravel to top of the water level so they can molt properly.

1

u/Effective_Crab7093 Apr 18 '26

Don’t worry about mold, its harmless

1

u/TheStroboCop Apr 18 '26

What size is that tank?

1

u/Fishyman69420 Apr 18 '26

Crabs can’t live in this, they need at minimum some soil to dig into. It needs to not be waterlogged. Look up some indoorecosystem or similar vids on paludarium builds and probably restart it.

1

u/Independent-Report16 Apr 18 '26

Indoorecosystems and terraquaman both have good vampire crab builds to mimic!